Children & Young People's Services Resource guide for professionals

How to refer a victim to a MARACAny agency can make a referral for cases which meet one or more of the following criteria:1. Professional judgement – if a professional has serious concerns about a victim’s situation and/orthe victim’s perception of their risk even if they do not meet criteria 2 and/or 3 below.2. Visible high risk –There is a visible high risk which has been identified by completing the‘Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment (DASH) Risk Assessment)’ – 14 ticks or more on theDASH form.3. Potential escalation – the number of police callouts to the victim as a result of the domesticviolence in the past 12 months. This could also be where abuse appears to be escalating and whereit is appropriate to assess the situation more fully by sharing information at the MARAC.4. Repeat – where a victim has been heard at MARAC within the previous 12 months and therehas been a repeat incident. Agencies that refer a case to the MARAC will need to complete thefollowing MARAC documentation (please contact the MARAC Co-ordinator, contact details on thenext page):• MARAC referral form• Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment (DASH) risk assessment• Information Sharing without Consent FormGetting consent from the victim for the referral to the MARACThe victim should be involved and informed about the referral to the MARAC, unless doing so wouldmake them or their family less safe. It is helpful to explain to the victim about the process of aMARAC so they can understand how agencies work together to help increase their safety by offeringservices or support. If you are making a referral to the MARAC and you do not have the consent ofthe victim to do so, please complete an ‘Information Sharing without Consent Form’.What happens to MARAC referrals?All cases referred to MARAC are immediately referred to an IDVA or a DV Support Officer. They willthen contact the victim prior to the MARAC meeting so that the victim’s views can be shared atthe meeting. MARAC case is added to the agenda for the next MARAC meeting. MARAC meetingsare currently held monthly but can be held fortnightly if a high number of referrals are received. Anemergency MARAC meeting can be called if the case referred requires it.• Following the MARAC meeting your agency/agencies MARAC rep will inform you of any informationshared at the meeting which could have an impact on your response to the victim/ perpetrator/s.• You may also have actions arising from the meeting, which will help improve the safety to the victimand their children.• You are required to complete the actions within the allocated timeframe and notify your MARACrepresentative once they are completed.What’s a good MARAC Referral?• Consent from the victim to make the referral. On occasions where victims/clients do not engage withthe services or decline the consent for their case to be discussed at the MARAC, professionals mayrefer the case by using the Information Sharing without Consent form.• Details of the most recent incident including any injuries sustained.• History/background of abuse or any other risks faced by the victim.• Clear indication of which criteria the referral is being made under.• Perpetrator’s details especially name, DOB and address.• Equalities monitoring information i.e. religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc.• Specify names and DOBs of children, if any.Resource Guide for professionals | Updated January 2013 49